Navigation

Indigenous Women in Music

Patsy Coleman may have spent her life writing music, but she has only started sharing her songs with the world this year.

Coleman, 31, is one of the Saltwater Divas gearing up to perform at the Indigenous Women In Music Night at Happy Yess.

She joined the Saltwater Divas program this year after seeing the success of her friend in the Desert Divas program – run for Indigenous women in Central Australia as opposed to the Top End.

“I wrote songs for years but the only person who heard them was my sister,” Coleman says.

“I always wanted to join the Divas but I felt I wasn’t good enough to be singing in front of people, but it’s been a huge confidence boost.”

The step to share her music has already paid off. Coleman was chosen to perform at the Bush Bands Bash in September and is heading to the Nannup Music Festival in March.

“Performing my songs is the best feeling in the world – I thought I’d known an adrenalin rush before, but there’s nothing like performing,” she says.

Coleman writes her country blues songs about her life and mother-hood, and it allows her a chance to turn her mind off from her day job as a police officer.

“It’s an amazing way to switch off and shows me more of the world outside my job,” she says.

“There is so much good in the world – it’s eye opening to get out there and be more of myself.”

Coleman will be joined by fellow Divas Lynette Lewis (Desmo Lewis), Pauliesha McKenzie (Lyrik), Maree Yoelu, Noni Eather, Ray-Ray McKenzie and Sharna Phillips, who will each perform a solo set and a few joint songs, followed by a DJ set from Jadden Chisholm (DJ Chiz).

More reads

Top End songstress Caiti Baker is hitting the track and traversing the Territory for her Beyond the Dust Tour. By Tamara Howie Baker will take her unique style that mixes blues, soul, gospel, jazz, big band and rock and roll...

Wild women of the north will have their stories immortalised in song by some of the Top End’s best female musicians. By Tamara Howie It’s all part of muso Tracey Bunn’s residency at the NT Archives, where she will delve...

Rhiannon Oakhill will be heading into space in her first show after her new appointment as principal double bass with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO), after almost a decade with the organisation. By Tamara Howie Oakhill, 25, had a yarn...

Multi-award winning singer, songwriter, and producer Brian Cadd (AM) will hit the stage in Darwin after recently returning to his old stomping ground of Nashville where he recorded a soon-to-be-released album. The 71-year-old singer and piano player still rocks in...

Get ready to Baroque and roll with the Arafura Music Collective at Pee Wee’s at the Point for the second collaboration between the chamber orchestra and picturesque venue. Guest performer Jenny Eriksson says it’s an exciting program of music exploring...

Never miss an event

Sign up to our electronic mailing list to receive the latest events news.